I believe…What I believe about sin

Throughout the history of the Christian church, men have endeavored to record the core fundamental beliefs of their faith. Through creeds, catechisms, and other writings, they have sought to summarize and memorialize their beliefs and convictions. I am not a theologian…just a simple sinner saved by the grace of Almighty God. That said, as Christians we are all members of a royal priesthood, and I believe that it is important to know what we believe and to be able to state it clearly for others. As a father and a worker in Children’s Ministry, I have found that this is especially important in order to be able to answer questions raised by kids with clear, concise, and generally brief answers.

So, I decided a useful exercise would be to begin to record my Christian beliefs in short concise statements (I hope). I do not intend for these to represent my own personal systematic theology or to cover all aspects of the Christian faith. It is not my intent to expand on the why of my beliefs, but simply to list what my beliefs are. I also don’t have a plan for how frequently I might put one of these entries together. Instead they will represent my feeble attempt to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit think a little more deeply about what I believe about selected doctrines and issues. That said, I want these entries to represent what I believe and not just what “I feel.” The heart is, after all, “deceitful above all things.” So, I will endeavor to include scripture references wherever possible. I think of it as a cheat sheet for what I believe.

So, that is WHAT I am doing. The next logical question is, WHY am I recording them here on my blog. There are actually three reasons,

Why not? I’ll already have them written down.

I hope in some small way that they may help someone to clarify their own beliefs.

I am hoping that the readers of this blog can help me out. I am not a trained theologian. I’ve never been to seminary. The closest I’ve ever come to a class on Systematic Theology is that I own Wayne Grudem’s book. I read my Bible, but I don’t consider myself a scholar. If I miss something or misstate something, I hope that someone will point it out!

I’ve decided to start with my beliefs on the issue of sin. There have been a lot in the news stories recently where people have been ridiculed, lambasted or otherwise ridiculed for their beliefs on particular sins (be that abortion, homosexuality, marriage, divorce, or anything else). Rather than addressing each sin individually, it seemed like a good time to step back and examine my beliefs on sin in general.

10 responses to I believe…What I believe about sin

Great Idea! Looks like you covered everything (I’m no scholar). I have to say that my belief is the same. And only the Bible teaches this. Having the correct understanding what sin is is so crucial to following the right Jesus. The Jesus who is God and came down to the earth, in the form of His creation. Lived a perfect life and died taking my sin and the wrath that I deserved. God poured out that wrath on Him. And on the third day Jesus was resurrected. And He now sits at the right hand of God. Soon to judge the nations and to take His bride home. Glory to my Savior. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. {{2 Timothy 4}}

ps… I’m thinking of making a PDF that can be used for easy access and printing.

Excellent! Excellent Bible based understanding of sin. Such a loaded word in our culture but vital in understanding God’s master plan for humanity.

I like this definition of “sinful nature” that Xenos Christian Fellowship has on their website. “The inherited and deeply ingrained drive to rule our own lives, rebel against God, protect and exalt ourselves, and meet our own needs our own way apart from God.”

Something for you to consider. You said that you were just a simple sinner saved by grace, If you were speaking of having been a sinner in the past tense, this is true. Are you now a sinner saved by grace? No. If you are now a sinner saved by grace, you are always focusing on your sin and ability to sin. However, if your are redeemed by the blood of the lamb and assume your Son ship (1John 3:1) you then focus on your potential in Him rather than your ability to sin. Do we sin? Generally not willfully, but we do. And when we sin we confess our sin knowing we am growing in Him, and move on. If you direct your focus on who you are in Christ, then sin will have no dominion over you. Why? All I want to do is please my heavenly Father and daily attempt to act like his son, Jesus.